Supported by an EU grant of €800,000, ANDROID will run for three years, led by the UK-based University of Salford’s Centre for Disaster Resilience. During that time, the consortium partners will describe, analyse and compare the capacity of European cities and higher education institutions to address disaster risk. ANDROID will provide a link between the research and the public, helping to reinforce the connection between education and society.

A consortium of partners from 64 European higher education institutions has embarked on the project, joined by three institutions from Australia, Canada and Sri Lanka. UNU is represented by the UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU–EHS) in Bonn.

“There is now recognition of the need for collaboration on a large scale that involves a plurality of actors”, said Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga of the Centre for Disaster Resilience. “ANDROID is based on an inter-disciplinary consortium of partners that comprises scientists from applied human, social and natural disciplines. Addressing disaster risk is an endless or continuous process that cannot stop.”

The project was inspired by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Making Cities Resilient campaign. That campaign advocates widespread commitment by local governments to build resilience to disasters, increase national government support to cities to strengthen local capacities, and to develop global goals that are applicable for all cities.